Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-10-13

| spend their nights in dancing and theil
days in the study of fashions.'
/ With the bitter thought came the
memory Of the fair face of Valerie
BLAIR, as he had seen it an hour before
under the glare of gaslight, brilliant
with beauty, full of the brightness OF
laughter, and he wondered if it would
not be more beautiful to his sight
could he see it bend over the diving In
FAINT, which he took from the mother
and IN his own arms; wondered if
those starry eyes of hers would fiji
with womanly pity, and those red
lovely lips whisper comforting words
TO the woman who so needed words of
comfort.
''How every dainty nerve in her BODY
would shrink from contact with this
poverty, of which she is so unconscious.
although it is SO near hertz he told
himself with a curling lip.
And yet, as the slow hours draooed
on. and he remained there. unwiIlino
to leave the poor woman alone with
dying child and dying husband. the
memory of Valerie Blair's face re-
manned with him.
Day broke over the city; the east was
full OF grey mists and heecy clouds.
when at last he turned from watchiao
the final culver pass over the tiny form
Of the baby, to see the door open, and
slight figure pause d moment OF
the threshold.
1T is past. Your child is sleeping"
de said softly to the poor mother.
And such u low bitter cry as she
uttered he had rarely heard, even over
a corpse.
My baby! my babyw
1T is with the angels, said a sweet
| soft voice, SO gentle, so reverent. that
it was like music. BE glad for Your
child. God surely loved her"
Godfrey looked keenly at the
stranger.
What! could it be the belle of the
last nights ball-the fair, gray-eyed,
laughing girl, whose eyes had out
shone her jewels. whose face had been
fairer than her flowers. clad now in
simple garments. her arms about this
slster-w oman who SO needed their sup
port, her eyes misty With tears, her
red lips tremulous. her whole face full
of angelic svmpathya Was he dream
ing or was Valerie Blair before him in
the flesh?
Quietly he stole out and down the
many stairs. conscious that he had been
unnoticed by Valerie
Il wronged her, lie told himself, as
he went through the cold air of the
early day; II Nrongcl her vilely. She
is an angel, with God's blessing on her
lifel"
"A runaway! A runaway! and a
lady in the carriagc shrieked the
shriil voice of q newsboy, as Godfrey
Lamer was sauntering across the park.
Ina moment tie young physician was
in the way ofthe flying animal, which
was advancing towards him at mad
gallop, rocking Il light phaeton, to
which it was harnessed from side to
side.
Godfrey rushed forward and seized
the reins
moments plunging of the horse,
which bore the young man With him
several yards; then the danget. was
past for all concerned, and Godfrey,
relieved by other hands, was barring
his head to the occupant of the phaeton
Valerie Blair
on are quiet safe now" he said
gently, '.but fear that you have been
badly frightened. May | offer myself
as your coachman? You had better
not drive your pony until he has for
gotten his fright"
Thank you very much, DR.. Lar1er,"
said Valerie with slight smile, al
though she trembled from head to foot
Il owe you much as it is. If | may
add to my indebtedness, | would be so
glad to have you drive back for me-
Fortunately it is not far
He took his place beside her. Was
it not fated that they should meet, al
though not in balI-room2
BY the time theyreached Miss Blair's
home, they were chatting like old
friends.
II think you saved my life to-day"
said Valeria, as she babe him goodbye
ut the door. ''L am very grateful,
Dr. Lamerr'
There is way to prove your graft
tude, Miss Blair"
''Pray tell me of it."
'OFanG me The PERMISSION 10 call
on you; give me place on the list of
your friends"
A faint flush colored her face under
his glance.
'.Willingly!' she said softly, earn
estly.
Meeting often, such man and such
a woman must fall in love, which, after
ali, is but finding IN each other the
strongest kind Of sympathy
similarity of soul which makes the love
eternal.
Why" cried Mercy, when her.
cousin told her he was engaged to
Valerie, sit is Il few months since you
declined an Introduction to her,"
Il bat waited for an introduction at
the hands OF fate, he laughed. Il did
not decline that, cousin"
a Perfect Ordnance Officer
A DaH;sh officer is pictured to us
q.